Assamese dances to open Italy's Int'l Film Festival

Guwahati, July 8: At the opening of the 45th Giffoni International Film Festival in Italy next week, Bihu and Bhortal, which are the two traditional dance forms of Assam will be performed by school students from the state.

The film festival is one of the most prominent international children’s film festivals in the world will begin on July 17 at Giffoni Valle Piana in Salerno province in southern Italy.While Bihu is a well-known dance form, Bhortal, where the performers are equipped with cymbals, was developed by Satriya artiste Narahari Burha Bhakat in Barpeta district.

“We are very happy that two very important dance forms of Assam will be performed at the inauguration of such a prestigious event. We are looking forward to that day,” said school director J.N. Das.

“A thought-provoking documentary titled ‘We are Same Same, But Different’, directed by our students, has also been selected for a special screening,” he said.Earlier, a documentary titled “Assam Bamboo Crafts” by students of NPS International School bagged the ‘Best Documentary Film’ and ‘Best Cinematography’ awards in the school students section at the 5th Dada Saheb Phalke Film Festival in 2015, news agency The North East Today reported.

“We are Same Same, But Different” was also selected in the top five from among 72 short films at the 8th Chinh India Kids Film Festival and Forum held in New Delhi from December 13 to 18 last year. Around 1,000 students from 29 countries had participated in the event.

Students from the NPS International School in Guwahati have been invited by the organisers to perform at the film festival. Apart from Bihu and Bhortal, four students, Md. Nasad (Class 8), Hrishiraj Sawant (Class 9), Krishna Saha (Class 8) and Disha Boro (Class 8), will also perform Indian classical dance at the inauguration ceremony.